The hydrogen concentration in steel is directly related to the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) sensitivity of the steel. This study combined electrochemical hydrogen charging, the slow strain rate test (SSRT), and hydrogen permeation experiments to investigate the variation in the hydrogen concentration in pipeline steel with the electrochemical hydrogen-charging time. The influence of the hydrogen concentration in steel on the mechanical properties of X80 pipeline steel was obtained, and ultimately, a quantitative relationship between the hydrogen concentration in steel and the hydrogen embrittlement sensitivity was established. The results show that the hydrogen concentration in the steel gradually increased with the time of hydrogen charging, and the quantitative relationship formula can be given as C_H = 5.35 − 4.2 exp (−0.26t); the HE index of X80 steel increased with the hydrogen concentration. Additionally, once the hydrogen concentration in steel reaches 5.08 × 10⁻⁶ mol/cm³, even the slightest alteration in the hydrogen content will precipitate a dramatic decrease in plasticity. The quantitative relationship formula between the hydrogen concentration and the HE index (F_H) in X80 steel can be given as $F_{\mathrm{H}}=0.029 \exp (1.5C_{\mathrm{H}}) - 0.029$. When the hydrogen concentration in steel is at a maximum, the F_H of X80 steel reaches 88.6%. This study provides a reference for analyzing the quantitative relationship between the hydrogen concentration and the HE index in steel after electrochemical hydrogen charging.

Hot stamping process is widely used in the manufacture of the high strength automotive steel, mainly including the stamping and quenching process of the hot-formed steel. In the hot stamping process, the steel is heated above the critical austenitizing temperature, and then it is rapidly stamped in the mold and the quenching phase transition occurs at the same time. The quenching operation in the hot stamping process has a significant influence on the phase transition and mechanical properties of the hot-stamping steel. A proper quenching technique is quite important to control the microstructure and properties of an ultra-high strength hot-stamping steel. In this paper, considering the factors of the austenitizing temperature, the austenitizing time and the cooling rate, a coupled model on the thermal homogenization and phase transition from austenite to martensite in quenching process was established for production of ultra-high strength hot-stamping steel. The temperature variation, the austenite decomposition and martensite formation during quenching process was simulated. At the same time, the microstructure and the properties of the ultra-high strength hot-stamping steel after quenching at different austenitizing temperature were experimental studied. The results show that under the conditions of low cooling rate, the final quenching microstructure of the ultra-high strength hot-stamping steel includes martensite, residual austenite, bainite and ferrite. With the increase of the cooling rate, bainite and ferrite gradually disappear. While austenitizing at 930 °C, the tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and strength-ductility product of the hot-stamping steel are 1770.1 MPa, 1128.2 MPa, 6.72% and 11.9 GPa%, respectively.

Clarifying the influence of Nb and V microalloying on the ultra-high strength hot stamping steel (UHSHSS) and exploring appropriate process parameters are the basis for effectively regulating properties of the final product. In this study, the effects of different austenitizing temperatures and holding times on the phase transitions, grain sizes and mechanical properties of 22MnB5NbV with Nb and V alloyed are studied by using JMatPro thermodynamic calculations and experiments. By comparing with 22MnB5 without Nb and V alloyed, the effects of Nb and V elements on quenching microstructures, grain sizes and mechanical properties of UHSHSS are analyzed. The suitable austenitizing process parameters of 22MnB5NbV have been obtained. The results show that the grain size of Nb-V-alloyed UHSHSS grows with the increase in the austenitizing temperature and holding time. The 22MnB5NbV steel can be completely austenitized while the austenitizing temperatures ≥870 °C and holding time ≥3 min. Combined with the actual production process, the best austenitizing temperature and holding time are 930 °C and 3 min. Under these conditions, the average grain size is 7.7 μm, the tensile strength, elongation and strength-ductility product are 1570.8 MPa, 6.6% and 10.4 GPa·%, respectively. With the addition of Nb and V elements, the nanoscale precipitates lead to the refinement of the quenched structure and grain size, and the comprehensive properties of UHSHSS have been effectively promoted, in which the elongation and strong-plastic products are increased by ~0.6% and ~1.2 GPa·%, respectively.

Elucidating the evolution law of the elastic properties of the matrix phase is of great significance for the control of steel properties and quality during continuous casting and subsequent heat treatment. In this paper, thermal expansion experiments and ab initio calculations are used to study the elastic properties of the interstitial free (IF) steel matrix phase in different magnetic states and crystal structures. The results show that the bulk modulus B and the tetragonal shear elastic constant C’ for the entire temperature range decrease with increasing temperature, but C₄₄ is the opposite. While from paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) state, C’(C₄₄) have changed ~188% (~27%), B increases by ~55% during the crystal structure change (fcc→bcc). With the FM to PM state, the Zener anisotropy parameter increases sharply, and Young’s modulus decreases significantly in the [001] direction; the maximum difference is ~76 GPa. The evolution rate of average Young’s modulus in single bcc-phase FM (fcc-phase PM) range reaches ~5.5(~5.6) × 10⁻² GPa K⁻¹. The research provides an effective method for ab initio calculation of the elastic properties of interstitial free and ultra-low carbon steels at high temperature, also furnishing a basis for the application of ab initio calculations to the high temperature performance of steel materials.

Exploring the mechanism of the α-ferrite precipitation process on high-temperature properties plays an important guiding role in avoiding slab cracks and effectively regulating quality. In this work, in situ observation of the α-ferrite sustained precipitation behavior for peritectic steel during the austenitic phase transition process has been investigated using high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscopy. Meanwhile, the high-temperature evolution of the phase fractions during the phase transition process was quantitatively analyzed based on the high-temperature expansion experiment using the peak separation method. Furthermore, the high-temperature properties variations of the casting slab during the α-ferrite sustained precipitation process were investigated with the Gleeble thermomechanical simulator. The results show that the film-like ferrite precipitated along the austenite grain boundaries at the initial stage of phase transition, then needle-like ferrite initiates rapid precipitation on film-like ferrite when the average thickness reaches 15~20 μm. Hot ductility reached a minimum at the ferrite phase fraction f_α = 10~15%, while high-temperature properties returned to a higher level after f_α > 40~45%. The appearance of a considerable amount of needle-like ferrite and grain refinement effectively improves the high-temperature properties with the α-ferrite precipitation process advances.